AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12003, 22 October 1906, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Westrmlla's Position. Altond Broach of Faith by South Australia. Statomont by Sir John Forrest. Press Association.-Telegraph.-Copyright. PERTH, October 20. Sir John Forrest stated that Sir Frederick Holder had written to him saying that he did not believe South Australia would be guilty of such a piece of political treachery as not to carry out the promise made. He (Sir John Forrest) had kept this letter to himself for years, as he did not' wish to drag the Speaker of a 'House into the political arena. He would, however, keep the fact back no longer, and he asked why Sir Frederick Holder had not come forward and said to the people of South Australia, "I made a promise on your behalf, and you must carry out that promise." Sir Frederick Holder had not done his duty. He thought if Western Australia was to be isolated from the other parts of Australia, he for one would have nothing to do with Federation. He would say that again. Federation, as far as Western Australia was concerned, was a delusion, a- sham, and a farce, and Western Australia might just as well be an island in the Indian Ocean as be in its present position. They desired that the Continent should be joined together. He said, however, deliberately, that he was a strong Federalist, for he did not believe there was room on this Continent for six sovereign States, but if they were to remain isloated, Federation was of no use to them, and the sooner they were out of it the better. [The promise referred to by Sir John Forrest was in connection with the construction of a trans-Continental railway to Western Australia. Sir John Forrest stated that Sir Frederick Holder had pledged South Australia's assistance towards the carrying out of the scheme.]